Suicide Prevention Week Events in Kansas

Sunday September 5 through Saturday September 11, 2010

Sec. of State Chris Biggs, CEO of NAMI-Kansas Rick Cagan, Suicide Prevention Coordinator for Wichita VA Jason Deselms, Secretary of SRS Don Jordan, Director of Headquarters Counseling Center Marcia Epstein, Secretary of Aging Marty Kennedy, Gov. Mark Parkinson, Director of Health Jason Eberhart-Phillips, from ValueOptions Tammy Adams, from Dept on Aging Sue Schuster, Rep. Lana Gordon, from Shawnee Heights Schools Nancy Taylor, Chief of Workforce Support KS National Guard Major Robert Stinson, Suicide Prevention Coordinator and Chaplain for KS National Guard Chaplain Richard Dunn - August 18, 2010

Governor's Proclamation Signing: Wednesday, August 18, 1:30pm; participants include representatives of the Association of Community Mental health Centers of Kansas (ACMHCK), Headquarters Counseling Center, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS), Kansas Department on Aging (KDOA), Kansas Governor's Mental Health Services Planning Council (GMHSPC), Kansas Legislature, Kansas National Guard, NAMI-KS, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Shawnee Heights School District, SRS Mental Health, University of Kansas Student Senate, Veterans Administration (VA) Suicide Prevention Coordinators, and ValueOptions.

Topeka--Mayor/City Council Proclamation Signing: Tuesday, August 31st, 6:00 PM.

Douglas County Commission Proclamation Signing: Wednesday, September 1

Lawrence City Commission Proclamation Signing: Tuesday, September 7, 6:35pm

Lawrence--Community Workshop by David Litts: Wednesday, September 8, 7pm, Lawrence Memorial Hospital
"Preventing the Suicide of Someone You Know, Someone You Love": David Litts is from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center in Washington, DC.  David was formerly the Executive Director of the Air Force Suicide Prevention Plan.
(flyer, pdf)

Lawrence--Physicians Workshop by David Litts: Thursday, September 9, 7:30am, Lawrence Memorial Hospital
"Recognizing and Reducing Suicide Risk," a free workshop for primary care physicians and their staffs.

Additional Communities Planning Activity For SPW: Emporia, Independence, Johnson County, Kansas City, Lebo, Newton/Harvey County, Roeland Park, Wichita.

International Suicide Prevention Day: Friday September 10, 2010

International Association for Suicide Prevention, http://www.iasp.info/wspd/index.php

Light a Candle near a window at 8pm to show your support for suicide prevention to remember a lost loved one and for survivors of suicide.

Take Five to Save Lives: This is a Facebook virtual event; please mark that you will attend to show your support for suicide prevention on World Suicide Prevention Day. You can also join in on Twitter.com/take5saveLives or Take5toSaveLives.org.
"In the United States alone, a person dies by suicide every 16 minutes. September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day, and you can make a difference. Visit www.take5tosavelives.org to learn how. By taking 5 minutes to get involved and become informed, you will be part of a national movement to save lives."

**Take 5 To Save Lives is a project of the National Council for Suicide Prevention. 

Sunday September 12, 2010

Lawrence--Life Support Ride: motorcycle poker ride fund-raiser organized by HQCC.

Kansas City--SASS (Suicide Awareness Survivor Support) 7th Annual Remembrance Walk